Current Press Releases

Hundreds to Attend Country Hoe Down

Watkins Glen, NY- July 30, 2001 - This weekend (August 4 and 5), hundreds of concerned citizens from across the United States will attend Farm Sanctuary's annual Country Hoe Down, held at the Watkins Glen, NY, shelter.The Hoe Down begins on Saturday at 10:00 am and ends on Sunday at 3:00 pm. As part of this year's event, Farm Sanctuary is proud to launch a new campaign to have farm animals recognized as "sentient beings" in the United States, and to announce that Mary Tyler Moore will serve as the campaign's honorary chair. The Sentient Beings campaign is part of a growing popular interest in preventing the suffering of farm animals in America.

Nationally-recognized animal advocates and health experts will give presentations. Among this year's special guests are two internationally-acclaimed artists, Peter Max, whose visual impact on the 1960s has often been compared to the musical impact of The Beatles, and Sue Coe, known for her powerful artwork depicting the abuses of the food-animal industry. Hoe Down participants will enjoy hay rides, visits with the resident animals, veggie cookouts, and a barn dance.

Farm Sanctuary is a national, nonprofit animal protection organization with over 75,000 members which works to prevent cruelty to farm animals. Its Watkins Glen facility currently provides refuge to more than 1000 rescued animals, who will be allowed to live out the remainder of their natural lives in peace.

In addition to providing refuge for needy farm animals, Farm Sanctuary works to gain their legal protection, and educates people about the detrimental consequences of "factory farming." For more information about Farm Sanctuary, visit the Web site at www.farmsanctuary.org. And as of August 3, you can visit the Sentient Beings Web site at www.sentientbeings.org.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.